Queensland Consolidated Acts

POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 553A

553A Gender safeguard for inspection of entrant’s belongings

(1) This section applies if, under section 552 (2) (e) , a police officer or protective services officer asks a person to allow the officer, or another adult assisting the officer, to touch a garment the entrant is wearing for the purposes of the officer inspecting the entrant’s belongings.

(2) Subject to this section, the person touching the garment must, if reasonably practicable, be of the same gender as the entrant.

(3) The entrant must be given—

(a) an explanation of the inspection process; and

(b) a reasonable opportunity to express a preference about the gender of the person who is to touch the garment.

(4) A preference may be expressed in a way that would require different persons to touch a garment on the upper body, lower body or head of the person.

(5) A preference must be accommodated unless—

(a) there are reasonable grounds to believe the preference is expressed for an improper purpose; or

(b) it is not reasonably practicable to accommodate the preference.

Notes—

1 An improper purpose includes the following—

• a lewd or otherwise offensive purpose;

• an attempt to frustrate the process.

2 It is expected that it will be reasonably practicable to accommodate a genuine preference expressed in terms of a preference for a man or a woman. In other cases, the availability of a suitable person may be a determining factor.

(6) Without limiting the power under section 552 (2) (e) for an adult to assist the officer, the officer may ask an adult to assist if reasonably necessary—

(a) to ensure that the person touching the garment and the entrant are of the same gender; or

(b) to accommodate a preference expressed by the entrant; or

(c) to address a concern related to gender in a way that minimises embarrassment and offence.

(7) Also, the officer may touch the garment despite the officer not being of the same gender as the entrant if, in the circumstances, that is the most appropriate way to address a concern related to gender.